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Arizona’s public universities continue to be recognized as leaders in free speech and expression. The three state colleges ranked amongst the Top 30 in the nation in the recently released .

Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona all ranked among the top 11% of 251 ranked public and private institutions nationwide. All three universities earned “green light” ratings, the highest rating indicating that an institution maintains no policies that seriously threaten speech. 

Arizona is the only state in the U.S. where all of its four-year universities have the green light rating from FIRE. All three institutions have had a green-light rating since FIRE started the rankings five years ago.

The rankings are produced by research firm  and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (), a nonprofit organization that is committed to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and thought. College Pulse surveyed college undergraduates about their experiences and perceptions regarding free speech on campus to generate a score and ranking assigned to each university. This was the fifth year that the groups have published these nationwide rankings with this year’s survey including insights from nearly 60,000 students.

Since the inception of the rankings, Arizona’s public universities have been celebrated by FIRE’s leadership, touted as “setting a standard for expression that colleges across the country should aspire to follow.”

“Protecting and promoting free speech and intellectual freedom are core principles at Arizona’s public universities,” said ���ϲ���ַ��ȫ Chair Cecilia Mata. “Our institutions believe in the civil exchange of ideas and are committed to fostering environments that empower the sharing of diverse perspectives and promote dialogue on critical global issues to flourish in a civil and respectful manner. I’m proud that our universities have been recognized by FIRE and applaud our students, faculty and staff for their commitment to the First Amendment.” 

Arizona State University’s commitment to free speech was used as a standout example in the 64-page FIRE report and rankings, showcasing a standard of “High Honors” for its public response to a speech controversy. The report recorded 14 instances, two at ASU, of schools supporting free expression in response to a student sanctioning attempt.

The board and university leadership strive to protect intellectual freedom and free expression at Arizona’s public universities. Students, staff and faculty members may discuss any topic, as guaranteed by the First Amendment. 

For more information on the board’s efforts on free expression and commitment to protecting free speech please see the Fiscal Year 2024 Free Expression Annual Report.